Top 55 Traverse City Michigan Things To Do | 3 Jam-Packed Travel Guides Exploring Downtown, Leelanau Peninsula and Old Mission Peninsula + Wine Trail Map & Top Hotels


Traverse City Michigan Things To Do | Sherry Trautman | Travel-Mi.com

There are so many fun things to do in Traverse City! Discover Traverse City attractions and find Traverse City activities for the whole family!  

We divided this MASSIVE Traverse City Travel Guide into THREE Traverse City Itineraries (+Traverse City Maps) so your days in Northern Michigan will be filled with fun!  


Grab Your Traverse City Guide: 3 Guides For Traverse City Downtown, Leelanau Peninsula and Old Mission Peninsula

Choose Your Traverse City Guide!Choose Your Traverse City Guide!

GUIDE # 1: OLD MISSION PENINSULA GUIDE: Top 14 Things to See and Do! (+ Interactive Map!)

Emphasis on Sightseeing, Things to See and Do Plus Wine Tasting Along the Old Mission Peninsula. Lots of photo opportunities and fun on your Traverse City vacation!

  • Fantastic Old Mission Peninsula Wineries
  • Mission Point Lighthouse and Old Mission Lighthouse Park
  • Hiking Trails-Lovely Hidden Nature Preserve
  • Breathtaking Photography Opportunities
  • Great Restaurants
Old Mission Peninsula Guide

GUIDE # 2: LEELANAU PENINSULA GUIDE: Top 19 Things to Do, See and Experience (+ Interactive Map!)

Emphasis on Wine Tasting, Sightseeing, Eating and Adventures.  Lots of photo opportunities and fun! So many fun attractions in Traverse City!

  • Explore Lovely Suttons Bay
  • See iconic M-22
  • Discover Leland: So Many Things to Do in Fishtown!
  • Northport: Incredible Views, Scenery and Things to Do!
  • Visit Scenic Vineyards
  • See Sunflowers
  • Top Restaurants
  • See Cherry Farms!
  • Tour the Lighthouse

Visit Traverse City today! 

Leelanau Peninsula Guide


GUIDE # 3: HEART OF TRAVERSE CITY GUIDE: Top 11 Things to Do, See and Experience (+ Interactive Map!)

Emphasis on Exploring the Heart of Traverse City. Lots of photo opportunities and fun! Let's travel Traverse City Michigan!

  • Iconic sites (Do you have a selfie of the World's Largest Cherry Pie Pan?)
  • Scenic Nature Walks and Trails
  • Tour Grand Traverse Commons (Old Traverse City Mental Hospital)
  • Explore Downtown Traverse City 
  • Get Back to Nature with Local Traverse City Michigan Farms
  • Ship Excursions 
  • Scenic Kayaking
  • Let's Shop!  

There are so many attractions in Traverse City!  

Traverse City Guide

FYI:  *Most wineries open at 11:00 a.m. so we incorporated a few hours of morning activities to kick off the day!  


Top Traverse City Hotels


Grab our Traverse City Hotel guide!

Discover the best hotels on the water! We have a great selection of Traverse City resorts, hotels near Traverse City and great places to stay while traveling Michigan.

You will love the newly renovated Delamar hotel and several other hotels such as the Hotel Indigo, Cherry Tree Inn, Park Place Hotel and the Cambria Hotel.

Plus: 

  • Pet Friendly Hotels Traverse City (Dog Friendly Hotels Traverse City)
  • Hotels Near Traverse City
  • Traverse City Hotels on Beach
  • Traverse City Hotels on the Water

Grab our Traverse City Hotel guide!


Traverse City Things To Do Map

If you wish to pick and choose fun things to do, we created this Traverse City Michigan Things to Do Interactive Map to help you find your specific stops and aid in planning your trip. 


**Be sure to click this link to the Traverse City Michigan Things to Do Map in Google Maps so it is LIVE as you drive!

Helpful Map Tips:

  • Click on the plus and minus in the left corner to zoom in or out of the map.
  • Click on the icons for more info, addresses and photos of the stops.
  • Click on the map to drag and move it to view surrounding areas.
  • In the Header, click on the rectangle in the upper left of the map to see a menu of all of our stops. Click on anything that looks interesting to see where it is on the map. To hide the menu, click the rectangle in the header. 
  • In the Header, click on the "square" icon in the upper right side to expand the map for better viewing. 

Traverse City Michigan is such a spectacular city bursting with adventure, awesome eats and of course, award winning wine.  If biking and hiking is your thing, the trails are outstanding! 

Sometimes called "Travel City Michigan," this lovely lakeside town is a fantastic place for your Michigan vacation.

There are so many things to do and activities in Traverse City! You will love visiting Traverse City!


Traverse City Cherry Festival: July Is the Ultimate Time To Visit Traverse City!



The Traverse City Cherry Festival is one of Michigan's largest festivals of the year!  Don't miss out on the big name concerts, kids activities, bike rides, U.S. Thunderbirds air show, cherry spitting contests, car shows, yoga, farmers markets and EVERYTHING CHERRY! 

Traverse City travel is super popular, especially during the National Cherry Festival! It's one of our favorite activities in Traverse City!

Every July, around 500,000 people visit Traverse City for the super popular Cherry Festival.


Interactive Traverse City Michigan Wine Trail Map


We created this Traverse City Wine Trail Map Interactive Map to help you find your specific stops and aid in planning your trip. 

**Be sure to click this link to the Traverse City Wine Trail Map in Google Maps so it is live as you drive!!


Helpful Map Tips:

  • Click on the plus and minus in the left corner to zoom in or out of the map.
  • Click on the icons for more info, addresses and photos of the stops.
  • Click on the map to drag and move it to view surrounding areas.
  • In the Header, click on the rectangle in the upper left of the map to see a menu of all of our stops. Click on anything that looks interesting to see where it is on the map. To hide the menu, click the rectangle in the header. 
  • In the Header, click on the "square" icon in the upper right side to expand the map for better viewing. 

Traverse City U-Pick Map


Here is a list of great Traverse City U-pick fruit farms we created to help you find great farms with local produce!


Outstanding Traverse City Biking and Walking Trails


Little Traverse Wheelway-23.7 Miles, Asphalt. Trail activities: Bike, Inline Skating, Fishing, Wheelchair Accessible, Walking, Cross Country Skiing



The Little Traverse Wheelway is north of Traverse City but needs to be mentioned.

Trail end points: Waller Rd. and US 31 (Charlevoix) and Kosequat Park at Park Ln. and E. Lake Road (Harbor Springs).



This is our favorite trail because it's paved, boasts fantastic views and allows for lots of photo worthy stops.  You will enjoy views of Lake Michigan and its shoreline. The paved trail rolls for 24 miles from Charlevoix to Petoskey to Harbor Springs as it follows the curve of Little Traverse Bay.

Visit here for more information on trail heads, parking and detailed maps.


Grab Our Ultimate Sleeping Bear Dunes Guides!


More Fun Michigan Travel Guides!


Pin This Traverse City Page!

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Sherry Trautman Bio Picture

About the Lead Author | Sherry Trautman

Thanks for stopping by!

Our Words of Wisdom: “Never follow anyone else’s path. Unless you’re in the woods and you’re lost and you see a path, then by all means follow that path.”

"Sherry & Chris"

We're Sherry and Chris the founders of one of Michigan's most comprehensive and Top Travel Blogs!

    Sherry Trautman is a seasoned business owner and a multifaceted content creator, deeply entrenched in the world of travel in Michigan. With her extensive background in writing, editing, photography, marketing, website design, web mastering, social media, and publishing, she is the driving force behind the acclaimed Michigan Travel site "Travel-mi.com." A lifelong Michigander, Sherry's journey began in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan led her to St. Joseph during her formative years, and further to Kalamazoo for her higher education. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Design and Fine Art from Western Michigan University. Her career initially blossomed in Battle Creek, where she contributed significantly to aviation, marketing, and the art industry.

    In 2018, Sherry, alongside her husband Chris, embarked on a passionate endeavor with the inception of Travel-MI.com. This venture was not just a business but a full-time commitment to exploring and celebrating the diverse landscapes and communities of Michigan. Together, they tirelessly traverse the state, curating unique experiences, capturing stunning visuals, and weaving engaging narratives that showcase Michigan's rich cultural tapestry and natural beauty. From her early experiences in different Michigander locales to her extensive professional background, Sherry's life and work epitomize a deep-rooted expertise in Michigan travel, making her an authoritative voice in this niche.

Sherry & Chris are at the Inn at Bay Harbor and looking out at the lake.
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